Abstract: A catalyst composition that is the combination of or the reaction product of ingredients comprising (a) an iron-containing compound, (b) a silyl phosphonate, and (c) an organoaluminum compound.

Abstract: A catalyst composition comprising (a) an iron-containing compound, (b) a dihydrocarbyl hydrogen phosphite, and (c) an organoaluminum compound is disclosed for polymerizing 1,3-butadiene into syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene. The use of the catalyst composition of this disclosure avoids the use of environmentally detrimental components such as carbon disulfide and halogenated solvents. The melting temperature of the syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene can be varied from about 100 to about 200° C. by variations in the catalyst components and the component ratios. The ability to vary the melting temperature over such a broad range with a single catalyst composition is very desirable. The syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene can be used as a plastic or as an additive for rubber compositions wherein it can crosslink with conventional rubbers using conventional crosslinking agents.

Abstract: A catalyst composition that is the combination of or the reaction product of ingredients comprising (a) an iron-containing compound, (b) an &agr;-acylphosphonate diester, and (c) an organoaluminum compound.

Abstract: A tire having improved tear strength including at least one component comprising: a vulcanized elastomer; and up to about 35 parts by weight functionalized polyolefin per one hundred parts by weight rubber.

Abstract: A laminate contains a composite, comprising a high melting point thermoplastic such as polyphenylene or epoxy and high modulus fibers such as carbon or graphite, which is encapsulated with a resin. A primer adheres the encapsulated composite to a rubber material such as a tire tread. Alternatively, an undertread layer adheres the tire tread to the primed encapsulated composite. The laminate can be used as a run flat belt in a tire.

Abstract: A catalyst composition that is the combination of or the reaction product of ingredients comprising an iron-containing compound, an organomagnesium compound, and an &agr;-acylphosphonate diester.

Abstract: Blends of syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene and rubbery elastomers are prepared by a process that comprises polymerizing 1,3-butadiene monomer into syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene within a rubber cement of at least one rubbery elastomer by using a chromium-based or molybdenum-based catalyst composition.

Abstract: A thermoplastic vulcanizate prepared by a process comprising the steps of dynamically vulcanizing a vulcanizable rubber within a mixture that includes from about 15 to about 90 percent by weight of the rubber and from about 10 to about 85 percent by weight of a long-chain branched thermoplastic resin, where the long-chain branched thermoplastic resin is (i) an &agr;-olefin polymer, (ii) a copolymer of an &agr;-olefin and an &agr;-&ohgr;-olefin diene, or (iii) a mixture thereof, where the long-chain branched thermoplastic resin is characterized by a weight average molecular weight from about 100,000 to about 600,000, a number average molecular weight from about 40,000 to about 200,000, a z-average molecular weight from about 400,000 to about 2,000,000, a <g′>vis from about 0.2 to about 0.95, and a melt flow rate from about 0.3 to about 30 dg/min.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer formed by a process comprising the steps of dynamically vulcanizing a rubber within a mixture that includes the rubber, from about 10 to about 80 percent by weight of a thermoplastic resin based upon the total weight of the rubber and the thermoplastic combined, and from about 1 to about 25 percent by weight of a polymeric processing additive based upon the total weight of the rubber and the thermoplastic combined, where the polymeric processing additive is a linear polyolefin resin that has an melt flow rate that is greater than about 1,000 dg/min, a diene-modified polyolefin polymer that has an melt flow rate that is greater than about 1,000 dg/min, from about 0.005 to about 2.00 mole percent polymeric units deriving from dienes, and a viscosity average branching index that is from about 0.4 to about 0.

Abstract: A process for forming a thermoplastic vulcanizate compromising the steps of dynamically vulcanizing a rubber within a blend that comprises the rubber and a thermoplastic polymer, where said step of vulcanizing is carried out by using a phenolic resin in the presence of a catalyst system formed by combining a metal halide and a metal carboxylate. Also, a thermoplastic vulcanizate having low moisture pick-up with a technologically useful cure.

Abstract: A thermoplastic vulcanizate prepared by a process comprising the steps of dynamically vulcanizing a vulcanizable rubber within a mixture that includes from about 15 to about 90 percent by weight of the rubber and from about 10 to about 85 percent by weight of a long-chain branched thermoplastic resin, where the long-chain branched thermoplastic resin is (i) an &agr;-olefin polymer, (ii) a copolymer of an &agr;-olefin and an &agr;-&ohgr;-olefin diene, or (iii) a mixture thereof, where the long-chain branched thermoplastic resin is characterized by a weight average molecular weight from about 100,000 to about 600,000, a number average molecular weight from about 40,000 to about 200,000, a z-average molecular weight from about 400,000 to about 2,000,000, a <g′>vis from about 0.2 to about 0.95, and a melt flow rate from about 0.3 to about 30 dg/min.

Abstract: A catalyst composition that is the combination of or the reaction product of ingredients comprising (a) (i) a halogen-containing iron compound or (ii) an iron-containing compound and a halogen-containing compound, (b) a silyl phosphonate, and (c) an organoaluminum compound.

Abstract: A catalyst composition that is the combination of or the reaction product of ingredients including an iron-containing compound, a hydrogen phosphite, and a mixture of two or more organoaluminum compounds. This catalyst composition is particularly useful for polymerizing conjugated dienes. When this catalyst composition is used to polymerize 1,3-butadiene into syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene the ratio of the organoaluminum compounds can be adjusted to vary the melting temperature and molecular weight of the polymer product.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer prepared by a process comprising reacting an elastomer containing at least one reactive halogen atom with a poly(R1(R2)ethylene-co-maleimide) in the presence of a compatibilizer that reduces surface tension between the elastomer and the poly(R1(R2) ethylene-co-maleimide) and in the presence of a Lewis base catalyst, where R1 is a monovalent organic group and R2 is hydrogen or a monovalent organic group.

Abstract: A process for preparing conjugated diene polymers by polymerizing conjugated diene monomers in the presence of a catalyst composition that is formed by combining an iron-containing compound, a hydrogen phosphite, and an organoaluminum compound.

Abstract: A catalyst composition comprising (a) an iron-containing compound, (b) an organomagnesium compound and (c) a dihydrocarbyl hydrogen phosphite is disclosed for polymerizing 1,3-butadiene into syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene. The use of the catalyst composition of this disclosure avoids the use of environmentally detrimental components such as carbon disulfide and halogenated solvents. The melting temperature of the syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene can be varied from about 100 to about 190° C. by variations in the catalyst components and the component ratios. The ability to vary the melting temperature with a single catalyst composition is very desirable. The syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene can be used as a plastic or as an additive for rubber compositions wherein it can crosslink with conventional rubbers using conventional crosslinking agents.

Abstract: A process for forming an elastomeric polymer gel composition includes forming a blend by combining a poly(alkenyl-co-maleimide) that includes a maleimide and at least one monomer contributed unit derived from vinyl aromatic hydrocarbons, R1R2 ethylenes, and alkyl vinyl ethers; with a maleated polyalkylene. This is followed by addition of a crosslinking agent, which is allowed to react with the poly(alkenyl-co-maleimide) and maleated polyalkylene to form a polyalkyenyl grafted poly(alkenyl-co-maleimide). The polyalkenyl grafted poly(alkenyl-co-maleimide) is further blended with a polyester.

Abstract: A tire component comprising a plurality of elastomers, where at least one of said elastomers has a functional group defined by the formula where R1 is selected from the group consisting of a divalent alkylene group, an oxy-alkylene group, an amino alkylene group, and a substituted alkylene group, each group having from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, and R2 is covalently bonded to the elastomer and is selected from the group consisting of a linear-alkylene group, a branched-alkylene group, and a cyclo-alkylene group, each group having from about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A catalyst composition that is the combination of or the reaction product of ingredients including (a) a molybdenum-containing compound, (b) a hydrogen phosphite, and (c) a blend of two or more sterically distinct organoaluminum compounds. This catalyst composition is particularly useful for polymerizing conjugated dienes. When this catalyst composition is used to polymerize 1,3-butadiene into syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene, the ratio of the organoaluminum compounds can be adjusted to vary the melting temperature and molecular weight of the polymer product.

Abstract: A process for preparing blends of syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene and rubbery elastomers comprising the steps of (1) providing a mixture of high cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber cement and 1,3-butadiene monomer, and (2) combining (a) an iron-containing compound, (b) a hydrogen phosphite, and (c) an organoaluminum compound to form a catalyst composition outside the presence of the mixture of rubber cement and monomer, and (3) adding the catalyst composition to the mixture and thereby polymerizing the 1,3-butadiene monomer into syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene within the rubber cement.